1986 Fleer

Darryl Dawkins

Profile

Darryl Dawkins (January 11, 1957-) was one of the most talented basketball players from the Florida in the mid 1970s that later forced the NBA to use breakaway rims after thunderous dunks shattered two backboards in 1979. Dawkins led the Maynard Evan High School basketball team to the 1975 Florida State championship and then declared himself eligible for the NBA draft in hopes that he might follow fellow high school star Moses Malone into professional basketball. The Philadelphia 76ers then took Darryl with the fifth overall pick of the 1975 NBA Draft. Dawkins played a bench role for his first two seasons until 1977-78 when he earned a starting spot to battle other elite centers in the NBA. The 76ers, led by Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Dawkins, and Doug Collins, among others, drove to the 1977-78 Eastern Conference Finals only to fall to the Washington Bullets. Splitting time at center and power forward, Darryl and the 1979-80 Sixers made a run at the NBA Finals but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. In 1979, the basketball world took greater notice of the 6’11” center after he shattered two acrylic (glass) backboards in a span of three weeks. Dawkins named his thunderous dunks, and legendary singer Stevie Wonder nicknamed Darryl “Chocolate Thunder”, but he was also dubbed “Dr/ Dunkenstein” and “Sir Slam.” He never quite reach the potential he possessed coming out of high school due to him coming off the bench early and numerous injuries suffered in his later years. However, his dunks, power below the rim and field goal percentage made an impact in the NBA in the 1970s and 1980s. Darryl played 14 years in the NBA with the 76ers (1975-19812), the New Jersey Nets (1982-1987), the Utah Jazz (1987) and the Detroit Pistons (1987-1989). Darryl Dawkins retired having amassed 8,733 points, 4,432 rebounds, 917 assists and 345 steals in 726 career games. Following his playing days, Dawkins spent a brief stint with the Harlem Globetrotters and released his autobiography Chocolate Thunder: The Uncensored Life and Times of Darryl Dawkins in 2003.